NBA front offices want want big men that can do it all, but Toronto Raptors center Greg Monroe refuses to believe their is no place for traditional centers. Monroe isn't the type of big man that can take the ball from coast to coast or be a long range shooting threat. He can hit some midrange jumpers, but for the most part, he's a back to the basket kind of player. He's frustrated by how NBA team's aren't valuing his skillset like they should.
“We all know what everybody is reacting to and it is what it is,” Monroe told the Toronto Sun. “If a team dethrones the Warriors with a big everyone is going to go out and get a big. I mean you saw what they (the Warriors) did this summer (signing DeMarcus Cousins). They added a centre. You need bigs. JaVale (McGee) was still playing in Golden State (Zaza Pachulia too). You still have great centers in this league – Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond, Marc Gasol. You still have guys who are productive that play so I’m not worried about it. The only thing I can control is what happens inside the lines and that is what I am focussing on.”
Monroe is entering his 11th season in the NBA. He was selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He's become a journeyman in recent years. After spending time with the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns last year, he landed in Toronto. He thinks his new team is a good fit, and that the age of the traditional big man is just around the corner.
“It’s basketball. The one sport where being tall is cool and they are trying to wash it out,” Monroe said. “ It will come back around. Guys are adapting.”
The Raptors got a lot more exciting when they added Kawhi Leonard this offseason. On this team, Greg Monroe will have a chance to compete with Jonas Valanciunas for starting minutes. He'll continue to play his patented style of basketball.
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